The Estate of Things

Have you noticed the resurgence of the Mexican folk art blanket? It started last year and I thought it had died down after Grace Bonney covered her headboard with it.  But alas, its still happening.

In the July issue of HB,

In Betsy Burnham’s daughter’s room (when will people stop talking about this room, not any time soon!)

Maybe the yummiest example of all in Domino (a few years ago)…

After doing a little digging I found that it is called colcha and is native to the tenango region of Hidalgo in Mexico.  It is a folk art practiced by the Otomi Indians.

My Mom and Dad are living the colcha dream in their bedroom, you can catch a glimpse of it.  Its really beautiful in person and is a powerful graphic force in any room.

Last week I found this on Ebay and considered it as a coverlet for DC’s room. I searched “mexican coverlet” and “otomi” and found some other choices too.

These blankets are also available at the beautiful Laviva Home and Jacaranda.

Upon closer inspection of the bed linens in Betsy Burnham’s daughter’s room, I find the source of the bedding to be Deborah Sharpe Linens.  For review here is the bed again,
 

I have been searching for a new sheet set for my own bed and have been considering sources like Williams Sonoma Home for a while. Before going to Deborah’s website, I couldn’t have imagined the selection of embroidery genius I was about to encounter.

Before we talk about the selection, let’s establish a pattern of usage.

Emma Jane Pilkington

We’re focusing on the embroidered linens used on each of these beds, sometimes its just the shams, or a sheet set or a duvet or the whole bed.

Kate Spade’s apartment

John Willey, House Beautiful

Domino

Canadian House & Home

Amelia Handegan

Coastal Living

So on to the amazing selection available at Deborah Sharpe with some of my picks,

One of our readers recently commented and said hey what would you do for bedding in a little boys room and that got me thinking.

While I was perusing Urban Outfitters for bedding for DC’s room, I came across two spreads that I think you could design a whole room around for a toddler boy.

Enter the panel striped blanket. Both fun, masculine and sporty, I can see this blanket mixed with old furniture and new.  This one can grow with the kid, fold at the end of the bed for an accent or sit on it in the park.

Or perhaps you like the dot leaf tapestry better. I like the graphic and earthy pattern and I love the blues and greens together. This is a fun one that won’t set you back too much.

John wrote in with a search that he’d like to ask TEOT readers to help him with. John is looking for some sheets he saw on an old episode of Six Feet Under. By the way John, Six Feet Under is one of my all time favorite shows.

The sheets are from a scene with Brenda and Nate and if you watched the series you may remember that Nate spent a significant amount of time at Brenda’s house. I’m guessing the sheets were on Brenda’s bed.

John describes the sheets as having a white background with a large colorful (autumn) leaf print. Garnet Hill came to mind first but because it’s not fall I didn’t think I would find them there.  And they weren’t there but I’ll bet something like that will show up in the fall. Crate & Barrel surfaced next and this is what I found there (all Lehtimaja by Marimekko),

Plow & Hearth Sears

I got excited about this but quickly realized Glenna Jean only makes this Latte line for cribs

I also had a hunch that it might be Amenity. They use a lot of modern, natural prints. But no luck there.

This is a nice set from Alenska but still not John’s sheets.

Has anyone got any ideas for John? He would appreciate any and all suggestions, or maybe you know exactly what sheets John saw on Six Feet.

Thanks for your question John! If anyone else out there has any other questions send us an email and title it Dear TEOT, we’re happy to drop it into the public forum.

The Alexander Girard collection is available at Urban Outfitters and we have some serious love for the Multiform Quilt.

Hello lovely colors…

Suzy recently purchased the Mexican bedspread from Laviva Home.  She purchased it with the intention of using it as just that–a bedspread.  This was the first element she bought in an effort to recreate her bedroom.

Paper Scissors Oranges via Design Sponge

use of a similar textile as tablecloth in Lili Diallo’s apartment, Domino & Living Etc

This piece is beautiful in the picture but let me just say it is even more striking in person.  It certainly has the power to command the room.

There are many elements that Suzy needs to retain in the room because she doesn’t want to part with some or can’t take on the expense of replacement.

• Dark, carved furniture
• Green ceramic gourd lamps
• neutral, microfiber chaise
• TV
• carpet

She plans on painting the room Benjamin Moore’s “Soft Chamois” which is a creamy white. This will make what is already a big room feel even more open.  The creamy white will give her a neutral back drop so that she can express color through the bedspread and other accessories.  I don’t think she has settled on a trim color yet and she will most likely continue the same color on the ceiling.

Suzy’s question is– how can I incorporate the elements that I have now and combine them with some new accessories?

My first thought after hearing Suzy’s question, was of Sheila Bridges’ vibrant, apple green bedroom.

TEOT recommends the first thing Suzy do when starting her bedroom redo, is to edit out what she doesn’t want any more.  Remove everything that doesn’t really contribute or you’ve just been holding on to. Keep only the things that will contribute to the new vibe in your room.  If you don’t want to get rid of something maybe it could have a new home somewhere else in the house.

Pictures of Suzy’s bedroom to come.